Since 2021 there have been significant increases in federal
funding dedicated to climate, energy, and environmental initiatives.
Landmark legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) mark the largest investments in climate
mitigation in American history. While the resources available through
these laws provide unprecedented opportunities for communities across
the United States, the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) wants
to ensure that this funding is accessible to all communities in our
region, particularly those who have been underserved by federal
resources in the past.
This dashboard reveals trends in
federal funding awards across the Southeast to understand where funding
is going, what it is being used for, and ultimately how accessible it
has been for communities without a history of substantial federal
investments. Using this information, we aim to support decision-makers
across the region in applying for funding and supporting under-resourced
communities. This dashboard focuses on funding available through the
BIL, and we plan to address additional sources of funding, including the
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in future versions of this whitepaper as
more funding is allocated.
The Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was
passed in November 2021 and allocates $1.2 trillion over ten years in
funding for infrastructure projects including roads, public transit,
broadband, and electric grid upgrades. As federal agencies continue to
allocate BIL funding, this map shows how much funding recipients in the
Southeast have received as of July 13, 2023. Funding is tied to the
recipient’s location, which is often distinct from the place of
performance, meaning that the funding does not necessarily fund work in
that state However, the recipient location is the best available
indicator of where this funding is invested.
Almost half of
the new funding, or about $274 billion, will be allocated by the
Department of Transportation (USDOT). Other agencies, including the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE),
the Department of Commerce (DOC), and the Department of Interior (DOI)
will each award smaller amounts of funding, between $28 and $67 billion
each (Badlam et al., 2021). Federal agencies will use the funding for
operations or award most of the funding through direct payments,
competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or will allocate it based on
formulas that provide pre-determined amounts for each state/territory.